Desmond

in the imaging tab I get the blank black image and nothing else

Hi, I am trying to use NINA as a plate solver and I have run into an issue with it. It connects OK to the camera and can fire the shutter etc. but I just get a black image back. I have tested it in SharpCap and I can see the image in there just fine. Just wondering if I have missed something 'obvious' Thanks in advance!

That makes sense. I think some of the more advanced image processing apps for this stuff does it a little better than Photoshop? OR maybe I'm just being too hopeful

Hi, I am processing a couple of images from last night and the subjects were low in the sky, hence I have some gradients in the images. Since I was not using a filter, any suggestion for removing gradients? I have Photoshop as my main processing application. Any help much appreciated

it's the falling off that bothers me

With all these clouds around in the evenings that seem to drop in just when it's getting dark, I thought I might look into solar imaging for the (rare) times the sun comes out. I'm looking to add something basic to my setup to allow me to do this. Looking at the FLO website, I see these filters: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/baader-asbf-solar-filters-for-binoculars-and-camera-lenses-50mm-aperture.html Questions: Would I just attach that to the front of my 72ED Skywatcher and I'd be OK to image without destroying anything???? IF that is the equipment I need, anyone know what size I would need for my scope? Thank you in advance!

Final update on this one. The vendor did take the scope back 'for inspection'. They paid for postage when I asked for it. They cleaned the scope and returned it to me. The optics are now 100% dust free so I'm happy with the final outcome. I do feel I had to work overly hard to get a resolution to this and at no point did they say they were sorry that their customer was not happy. So in conclusion, would I buy from them again? No, I'll stick with FLO (as I tried to do originally) but the outcome is just shy of a name and shame post I think. The lesson? As stated by many people in this thread, stick to your guns and insist on a good outcome. Do not be 'fobbed off'. I did contact an independent telescope servicer for his opinion and he did state that in many Chinese manufacturing lines of mass produced scopes you can sometimes get unlucky and get dust in the optics. So they were not lying to me, just reluctant to make me a happy shopper. Anyway, anyone got some clear skies I can rent?

Guiding is next on my list... I'm going to run my mount in EQ mode for longs exposures as over 90 seconds is too much for the mount in AZ mode. All part of my education So for initial alignment. If I manually get Polaris in the center of my view then I should be ok for the 5 degrees needed? Thanks for the help 👍

I like this method Dave as the mathematical solution is not so simple for me 👍

No specific satellite setting that I know of. It's a Skywatcher AZ-GTi mount that I can run in EQ or AZ mode.

Hi all, I am trying to track the Prospero satellite as it passes near me. From the website I get information in a format different to my mount and I am struggling to understand how to convert from one to the other. The website information is as follows: I wish to hit it at the max altitude so I have Az=NE59 and EL=14 So for this example, what would I enter into my mount that asks for the details below: Thanks in advance

Hi all, I need to start working with EQ mode on my GTI mount and will need to polar align. Would my ED72 be too 'zoomed in' for this? If so, would I be able to polar align with say a 135mm lens on the camera and then mount the scope afterwards? Thanks in advance!

Scope is being packed up and sent back for them to 'inspect'. I have asked for a replacement, failing that a refund. I do think it was an open box return and not a new scope to be honest. I'll update on the next set of excuses I mean resolution. I'll name and shame if I have to so as to save others!

An update on this one for anyone following. I just got this from the vendor: These telescopes like any refractors or cassegrains aren’t sealed at the back of the scope so dust will get in I’m afraid. It’s quite common and even a brand new replacement may have similar particles. Seems like a cop out to me. Any thoughts? I have requested a replacement or refund again.

Thank you - I suspected that it did, but thought I'd ask rather than assume I just realised that I image at ISO 800, so I can try bumping up to 1600 for focusing and see if that helps me? Thanks for the answer, much appreciated!

Hi, I have recently added an Optolong L-Enhance filter to my camera. This reduces the light through the system and makes it much harder to see the bahtinov patterns to focus with. So my question is this: Could I focus without the filter and then add it into the system afterwards, or would this throw off my focus? I have a clip-in filter for my 1000D Just an idea I'm considering, though it's a bit more of a fiddle... Thanks in advance!

Hi, I have recently bought an ED71 scope for imaging. The scope comes with a very short dovetail and when I put the camera on it (Canon 1000D) it is not possible to get it to balance even with the mount right at the end of the dovetail closest to the focuser. I have a longer dovetail that could extend past the focuser to try out but that would prevent the camera from mounting correctly. Any ideas of how to do this in a better way? Thanks in advance!

This was the initial response: Hi Peter, They look like dust particles on the inside that won’t affect the performance. Kind Regards, No apologies or acknowledgements that this is not how a scope should be from new. Asked for a replacement, if no stock, then I'll go for a refund. I have not mentioned the vendor here as they have a chance to clear their name. If they chose not to then I will share the name to save others.

She did say they did not have it in stock. All is forgiven BTW

inside - but I cannot tell if it is between elements or not!

I did grab a few quick frames of Andromeda (moonlight intrusion to the left) and noticed top right the strange artefact around one of the stars there. I have looked on way better images than mine and never seen that. I wonder if this is the dust? This was the first night out and this is when I saw the dust as I was checking the lens for dew.

Thanks for the reply - much appreciated. Agreed - it's a lot of dust and I am requesting a replacement. If no stock, then a refund and I'll shop elsewhere. My wife bought it for me and sadly did not get it from FLO as I had requested.

I will give that a go for comparison. Good idea. Just wondering why I spent all that on a filer in that case! When would a filter be preferable then, given I'm in a Bortle 4 area? Thanks for the help - much appreciated!

Hi, I was lucky enough to get a new Skywatcher 72ED for Christmas and on opening it, I saw dust on the lens. Having tried to blow it off with a rocket blower, I have discovered it to be inside the tube. The vendor says this will not effect performance, however I'm not that pleased to find dust in a new scope. Any thoughts on how this might or might not effect my images would be welcome. Should I kick up a fuss or this this fine and I can relax? Some camera phone images attached for reference. Thanks in advance!

Ahh so I did pick a difficult one regards target being faint. I got much better results on the North American Nebula without a filter a few nights back so I was expecting that and a lot more from this one. Never assume This was my filterless North American Nebula effort: